Super Bowl Media Day from a Kids View: Players and Coaches Meet Reporters Before Super Sunday

By Scholastic News Kid Reporter Grace Ybarra

Of all the events surrounding the Super Bowl, one of the most talked about and entertaining is Media Day.

Super Bowl XLVI Media Day was Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This is where the New England Patriots and New York Giants will meet on Sunday to play for the NFL championship. But first they met the press. Thousands of media members gathered on the field to talk to the Patriots and Giants about the big game.

For some players, this is their first Super Bowl and they could get overwhelmed. But others have a little more experience and have helped their younger teammates.

Patriots running back Kevin Faulk was part of the team that played the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. He helped prepare the younger players for what to expect — in the Super Bowl and on Media Day.

“Just let them understand that we are here to play the football game,” Faulk said. “All the other distraction is for everyone else. We’ll be able to take care of that after the game is over. We are here for the game.”

Media Day isn’t the only distraction for many of these players and coaches. History and records are also on the line.

Coach Tom Coughlin of the Giants could make Giants team history. If he were to win this Super Bowl, he would tie former Giants head coach Bill Parcells’ record of two Super Bowl victories with the Giants.

“I would feel great for the New York Giants and for our team,” Coughlin said. “And that is what this is really about, is the Giants organization, professional football, the opportunity to play in the greatest game of all, the Super Bowl. And I would be very, very proud to be part of it.”

For Giants quarterback Eli Manning, there's a different pressure: playing on his brother's turf. Eli's brother Peyton is the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, and Super Bowl XLVI is taking place on Peyton’s home field.

“Indianapolis is a great town,” Eli said. “I’ve watched [Peyton’s] games in this stadium. I think the most important thing is that we are playing for a championship. We are going to try to get a win. It would be special to do it here in Indianapolis.”

Super Bowl XLVI will be played on Sunday, February 5. Kick off is at 6:30. You can watch all the action on NBC.